RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Visitors who were at Victoria Gardens and those with loved ones who visit or work at the busy open-air shopping mall received a scare on Friday night.

Rumors spread quickly through social media reporting that shots were fired in the area near the center near the Yard House and the California Pizza Kitchen. The rumors continued reporting that there was an “active shooter” and eventually that an arrest was made.

Deputies from the Rancho Cucamonga Station and the sheriff’s helicopter responded to investigate the report at around 8:00 p.m. on Friday night. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Spokeswoman Jodi Miller confirmed to a 24/7 Headline News reporter via email on Friday night that the rumors were false and there was no active shooter. In addition, Miller confirmed that there was no Sheriff’s Department initiated lockdown.

There is no further information about who made the false claim or the motive behind the rumor available at this time.